what Christmas meant

As we get rested up from Christmas, I've had some time to consider what Christmas meant this year...

The emotions ran high!

I went from doubting that it would ever come together - to the excitement or progress, and then felt loneliness under the weight of responsibility  - I went from exhaustion to the exhilaration of accomplishment and then fell into a deep contentment as we were surrounded by family!  I just love the challenge to create and relish the years I've been involved with many other team members working on the details.  The enjoyment of creating doesn't lessen the emotions we experience, but this year when we gave out over 60 new believer packets to people that raised their hands indicating a decision to follow Christ, any worry we had experienced was immediately forgotten and turned to praise!

In the midst of preparing Christmas there were intentional moments of reflection on the true meaning of a Savior born for me...a breath taking realization!

I love the season despite it's hectic requirements - and realize what a privilege it is to try each year to tell the story in a true, compelling way praying it makes the story of Jesus come alive to someone for the first time!

You can watch our service here Christmas at Crossroads

I took many pictures that I'd like to share - they tell the story of the journey called Christmas!

Crossroads Artist Group created light-bulb decorations
for the Crossroads tree at Kingwood

Grandmas helpers with the Crossroads' Christmas
tree!

When your talented daughter writes a book...what a blessing to read this Christmas!
Jocelyn Hunsader, author.

This precious little one was part of our Christmas video shoot!

My talented son Eric Biddle shot the Christmas videos

Our precious friend Kristin playing the part of the doctor in our video

It was a cold video shoot day

Such generous Crossroads' attendees braving the cold for our video shoot

Family all together at the carousel! 

Ernesto brought the house down with "Mary Did You Know"!
It was a definite highlight!

Loved working with these hilarious, talented gentlemen!!

A whole row of my Ashland cousins - so thankful for extended family I love!!

Blessed to have the amazing group The Trio playing in our lobby!

Beautiful flowers for the talented granddaughter dancer!

A star is born!

Good friends for Christmas lunch - Dana and Sue!

Cousins so happy to be back together!

Not sure who likes legos more?

Oliver and grandpa carrying Grandma Forbes' new tv down to her!

Family helping to take all the decorations down and clean for the Celebration services!

Loving being together again!

I encourage all of you with grandkids to let them serve with you and see you serve in the church,
if they grow up doing it they take such pride in serving others and spending time at church!!

This about wraps up my blessed Christmas.  I can't thank all of you who made Christmas at Crossroads a possibility, and all of my friends that prayed for me and encouraged me as we planned and executed the services with our amazing teams!!  Happy New Year!

Christmas - a time for friends and family

I've had a privilege few experience for my whole life.  I've always worked and served with family.

I served along-side my parents in church as a kid - cleaning, mowing and preparing for our weekend services.  There's something about making your kids 'help' especially with menial tasks behind the scenes in ministry that makes them take ownership and care about the ministry personally. I HIGHLY recommend inviting your kids and grandkids to serve with you.

My mom and I also worked at two places of business together before I stayed home to raise kids.  These shared days of work and life let us know one another in ways most mothers and daughters don't experience.

As Ron and I had children we all served together at church doing various tasks and being there when the doors were open together. 

I'm in that era of life where I see roles reversing with our kids.  Now I'm the one being taught.

I started my day today 'learning' from the writing of my daughter as I continue my study of Mary from the book she just published.  There's something about raising your kids, trying desperately to teach them about who the Lord is, then benefitting from their knowledge of Him... (tears streaming down my face)...

And then to get the call last night that Jared and Jocelyn lead Trinity their daughter to the Lord...(tears running down my face)... no words

And following having time in the Lord this morning using Jocelyn's book, I saw our son's video work on social media again - as we advertise our Christmas services.

How different they are - one being a 'word-smith' from an early age, the other visually able to see the story and make it come to life through his ability to understand the message that needs to be communicated and capturing it on video or graphically.  Breathtaking...

You can see it at this link.
Lift Up Your Eyes








God has also gifted us with an amazing God-loving daughter and son-in-law too - both crazy in love with Jesus and talented.  We consider both gifts straight from the Lord and miracles!

I'm not writing this to brag about my kids, our family has experienced ugly season's too.
I'm writing to encourage everyone who reads this to mend any damaged family/friend relationship you have right away.

I'm not suggesting you enter back into any harmful relationship, ever! 

But, recently with people I've personally talked to, I've been shocked at how long it's been since they've talked to loved ones.  Differences in life style and life choices have separated them - a difference in opinion in some cases is all that separates them.  You DO NOT have to condone how someone lives in order to love them and let them know that.

Please consider this Christmas season a simple text or call to a family member or friend that you've distanced yourself from.

Jesus says to 'love'...He doesn't list exceptions that permit you to remain mad or harbor a heart of disappointment or lack of forgiveness.

We owe the Savior a clean heart - that's what He asks for at Christmas!!

(I would LOVE to hear your comments about steps you're going to take to contact loved ones!!)

a marvelous Christmas

We have had a wonderful Christmas, family, church, gifts to share and eating - oh, so much eating!

Take a look!

Eric and Alyssa

An unbelievably beautiful impromptu picture at church of beautiful Trinity! 

Jocelyn, Jared and Trinity

I love my momma and sister Cristy!

Family gift frenzy

All of us at Crossroads together for the Christmas services, below as well - so special!

One of my favorite Christmas pictures~  Just love them more than I can say~

We tuck our family Christmas in between church responsibilities and it always seems to fit, just right!  

These pictures sum up what's most important to us, our own children Eric and Jocelyn are blessings we still can't believe the Lord chose to give to us.  And then you add beautiful Alyssa our daughter-in-law, the woman that the God of the Universe created just for our son - they compliment each other perfectly!

Next you consider Jared, the most unexpected blessing this year.  The story of his discovery of Jocelyn and the way he speaks of God's calling toward fostering and possibly adopting children - the very thing that caused him to begin the conversation with our daughter.   It cannot be dismissed as chance! We're excited about what the future holds for them.

So thankful also to the Lord to still have our mom's with us this year - enjoying good health and many great times this year with them!

Then the adoption of precious Trinity - our newest granddaughter...thankfulness to the Lord for her never ceases to end as we enjoy getting to know her more and more - falling madly in love with her as her adoption into our family became final in 2017.

And Oliver and Margot...they are continued blessings on blessings.  From the minute they enter a room, open their mouth reach out a hand to touch you...you fall deeper and deeper in love with them too.  

As a new year begins I pledge to cherish each minute I get to have with each of our family, taking nothing for granted and praising Him!

Father's Day

My dad taught me to love my heavenly father madly and I didn't question it because as my earthly father he lived what he asked me to do.  It wasn't just lip service although he loved to talk.

I didn't have a dad to buy a dumb card or Duck Dynasty blanket for this year, it made me sad, but I have a husband who is the best dad I've ever known and a fabulous son who I get to watch raise amazing kids as he models God's love.

We asked Ron what he'd like to do and he knew exactly!  NOTHING - stay home, order Leaning Tower and crash with the kids - so good!

My heart is thankful!  I hope you all had a great Father's Day!

weekend report

It was an amazing weekend at Crossroads Community Church! Students and Student Ministry staff and volunteers, took over everything possible at Crossroads!

It was so satisfying to watch multiple generations work together to express their love for the Lord as they worked very hard to do their best! The areas in which student or Student Ministry staff served included: worship team; technical team; some of the greeters; and other behind the scene areas such as our children's areas.

With Pastor Dave away in Cambodia - our Young Adult Pastor, Aaron Nicolas continued our Conspiracy Series by teaching us about Creativity with Excellence. It was a fascinating study and sent us all away with a better understanding of just what that means. We don't have to be what people would call 'a creative', rather we need to present everything we do with excellence to the Lord THE Creator! Creative Excellence to the best of our ability has always been one of our main values at Crossroads!

Voices lifted to the Lord - Dan is our senior worship leader.
This weekend was extra special with his granddaughter singing behind him.
Eric is our Senior High Pastor - he lead strong!

Nick and Austin - seriously talented guitarists!


2 more great voices! The future looks good at Crossroads!


Running camera is serious business, we 

had people watching our live feed clear

over in Cambodia!


The Stuckey brothers!


Rehearsal was fun! (Have I mentioned how much I love our students!?)


1 of 3 of our camera operators!


The girls at rehearsal!


Pastor Aaron Nicolas, our Young Adult Pastor!


Blueberry is extremely talented at Directing our Video production!





Dillon ran our CG which brings up all the lyrics and
the Pastor's slides - takes a ton of concentration!




Another great camera guy!


We have so much to be thankful for - I loved this weekend so much!


To watch our service go to www.crossroadswired.com


To see what other ministries used in their services go to www.theworshipcommunity.com